Fastening-device.



No. 652,903. Patented July 3, I900.

c. E. SMITH. FASTENING DEVICE.

(Application filed May 11, 1900.)

(No Model.)

WITNESSES: INVENTOR 3M1. J CZdf'/ZCQEJWZZZb I ATTORNEY THE Norms vzrzas00., PHOTDJJTHQ, vnsums'rou, n.

.garment may be attached. The side bars B CLARENCE EDWARD SMITH, OF NEWBRITAIN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE NORTH dz J UDD MANUFACTURINGCOMPANY, OF CONNECTICUT.

FASTENING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 652,903, dated July 3,1900.

Application filed May 11, 1900.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLARENCE EDWARD SMITH, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at New Britain, county of Hartford, State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inFastening Devices, of which the following is a full, clear, and ex actdescription.

This invention relates to a fastening device, and while it is especiallyapplicable for use on horse-clothing it may with ad vantage be appliedto articles of wearing-apparel in generalfor instance, belts.

Prominent among the objects which are attained in this invention aresimplicity of construction, effectiveness, and ease of operation.

Another important feature is the construction which may allow of theparts being flexibly engaged, so that although the members may freelypartake of a limited independent movement they are held againstaccidental disengagement;

These objects are attained in the construction illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a view showing the membersengaged. Fig. 2 is a View showing the manner of disengaging the parts.Fig. 3 is a view showing the position of the members as they are aboutto be rengaged. Fig. 4- is a relatively-enlarged View of a portion. ofthe eye member.

Referring to the drawings, there are two main members, the eye memberand the hook member, each of which parts cooperates with the other tosecure an effective result. The eye member comprises laterallyyieldingside bars B B, connected at their rear ends by a suitable holding-bar A,to which a belt or B are provided at their opposite or free ends withinturned noses B, which are caused to normally press toward each other.These noses form a duplex hook at the forward end of the eye member,whereby the other member of the fastening device, hereinafter described,is securely held. Intermediate the duplex hooks B and the holding-bar Athe side bars B are bent toward each other, so as to form a constrictedpassage C for the hook Serial No. 16,819. (No model.)

member, the passage of which being permitted by the momentary springingapart of the side arms B and the duplex hooks B. The frame of the hookmember preferably comprises side bars'D D,. connected at their rear endsby a holding-bar E, Whose function corresponds to that of theholding-bar A of the eye member. The side bars D D have theirfree ends DD offset and bent back to form a hook. These hooked ends D D arestaggered outwardly in opposite directions,

as best seen in the drawings, Figs. 1 and 3,

to form an enlarged bi-ll.

In operation the members are placed in the position indicated in Fig. 3,in which the hooked end of the hook member is first passed into thespace between the side arms B B of the eye member, to the rear of theconstricted passage C therein. It is then drawn through said constrictedpassage down to its seat against the duplex hooks B B, thelaterallyyielding side arms B spreading sufficiently to allow the hookto go through said passage. The instant, however, the hooked end of thehook member B passes said constricted opening the side bars B springtogether and cap ture the hooked end of the hook member between the sidearms and the before-mentioned duplex hooks B on the eye member, as bestshown in Fig. 1. This view shows both mem bers of the hook and eye intheir operative position, and the line of draft is such that bothmembers are held in practically the same line and plane, andconsequently cannot be disengaged. Assuming the pull on thehook membersis relaxed, they will not become accidentally disengaged, because theduplex hooks B and the spring side bars B yieldingly clamp the hookedend of the hook memo ber and. retain it in substantially the sameposition. When it is desired to detach the hook member from the eyemember, the parts may be rocked out of the same plane, the inturnedhooks B forming a fulcrum for the hook member for example, as shown inFig.

2, which indicates the position of the two members when they arepartially disengaged. By continuing to rock the same members shown inFig. 2 in the direction indicated by I00 arrows therein the enlargedbill of the hooked member will wedge the side bars B apart suflicientlyto permit complete disengagement of the parts. If desired, slightnotches B B may be formed on the inner side of the side bars B adjacentthe abrupt bend which forms the constricted passage 0. These notches areshown clearly in the enlarged detail view Fig. 4.

It willbe observed that at all times the parts are flexibly engaged andmay partake of a considerable limited independent movement withoutendangering the accidental disengagement of said parts, whichdisengagement may be effected as above described, or, if desired, itmaybe effected by swinging the parts at right angles to each other inthe same plane and then freely unhooking one part from the other insteadof rocking them out of the same plane, as indicated in Fig. 2. Inasmuchas the hook member does not have to yield in either the process ofattaching or the process of detaching, it is not necessary to provide itwith a flexible frame; but the same may be made in any convenient way.

It is obvious that the particular design shown in the drawings isimmaterial to the invention.

\Vhat I claim is- 1. In a fastening device in combination, a hook membercomprising a holding-bar, a frame carrying an offset hook having anenlarged bill, an eye member cooperating therewith and comprising aholding-bar, a pair of laterally-yielding side arms and inturned hooksat the free ends of said arms, said hooks being located in substantiallythe same plane with said arms, and a constricted passage between saidside arms near said hooks.

2. In a fastening device in combination a hook member comprising aholding-bar, a frame carrying an offset hook having an enlarged billintegral therewith, an eye member cooperating therewith and comprising aholding-bar, a pair of laterally-yielding side arms integral therewithand inturned hooks at the free ends of said arms, said hooks beinglocated in substantially the same plane with said arms, and aconstricted passage between said side arms near said hooks.

3. In a fastening device in combination, a hook member comprising aholding-bar, a frame carrying an oifset hook having an enlarged bill, aneye member cooperating therewith and comprising a holding-bar, a pair oflaterally-yielding side arms and inturned hooks at the free ends of saidarms, said hooks being located in substantially the same plane with saidarms, and abrupt shoulders forming a constricted passage between saidside arms near said hooks.

4:. In a fastening device in combination, a hook member comprising aholding-bar, a frame carrying an oifset hook having an enlarged bill, aneye member cooperating therewith and comprising a holding-bar, a pair oflaterally-yielding side arms and inturned hooks at the free ends of saidarms, said hooks being located in substantially the same plane with saidarms, and notches forming abrupt shoulders in turn forming a constrictedpassage between said side arms near said hooks.

Signed at New Britain, Connecticut, this 9th day of May, 1900.

CLARENCE ED\VARD SMITH.

\Vitnesses:

DANA L. VIBBERTS, PETER ODoNNELL.

